FALL RIVER — The School Committee held its first reading Monday night on proposed revisions to the district's procedures for responding to allegations of bullying and the district's bullying prevention plan.

An amendment to the state statute on bullying that became effective last July includes language stating school district staff, including teachers, school administrators, central administration and other district employees, can be considered perpetrators of bullying.

The committee is looking at the new bullying reporting procedures and prevention plans reflecting the added definition. A vote to adopt the amendment may take place in February or March.

The amendment does not change the definition of a bullying victim — only a student may be considered a bullying target, according to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Fall River's proposed procedure outlines the process of investigating those bullying allegations, stating, "all complaints of bullying in which a staff member is the alleged aggressor must be referred to the Fall River Public Schools human resource office prior to an investigation."

It further states that allegations against a staff member must be reported to the school principal, who would then be required to contact the human resource office to cooperatively "investigate the complaint, respond according to the determination and ... take measures to insure that the bullying, cyber-bullying or retaliation will not continue."

The procedure also states that allegations of bullying made against a school's administration would be reported and investigated by the district superintendent, who would also investigate the complaint in cooperation with the human resource office.

If allegations of bullying are made against the superintendent, those allegations will be investigated by a School Committee designee, who would then work with the human resource office on their investigation, according to the proposal.

It further reads that appeals of bullying complaints against school staff members found to be substantiated may be appealed to the human resource office and the superintendent. Substantiated complaints against a principal or vice principal may be appealed to the human resource office and superintendent. Complaints against the superintendent found to be substantiated may be appealed to the School Committee as a whole.

"When a complaint against a staff member has been made, human resources has to become involved in the complaint," attorney Diane Parent explained to the committee during its regular meeting Monday night at Morton Middle School. Parent added that the distinction was made so it's "easy for parents to see what the procedure is if a student is the alleged aggressor, or a staff member is the alleged aggressor."

When committee member Joseph Martins asked about the involvement of a School Committee designee, Parent explained that the designee "would only become involved when the complaint is against the superintendent."

Committee Vice Chairman Mark Costa questioned the 48-hour timeline for the designee, whose charge is determining whether bullying had occurred, to notify parents of both bullying victims and aggressors.

Page 2 of 2 - Costa said he would like to see that period tightened. "I, as a parent, would want to know once that determination has been made," Costa said.

When committee member Melissa Panchley asked if the public would have the opportunity to comment on the proposal, Superintendent Meg Mayo-Brown explained that there would be a public comment period, including opportunities for community organizations, parents and teachers to weigh in.

Costa said he would also like the committee to receive quarterly reports on bullying incidents throughout the district.

"Generically, I don't need to know specifics. Just to give committee a reference point," Costa said. "It may assist committee in revamping policies. to know how many reports coming in and what the result of those reports are."

"It's important we continue to develop the policies and procedures," said Mayor Will Flanagan, who serves as School Committee chairman. "This issue is a national issue. Fall River is really on the front lines. This is great work that everybody has been doing."

Massachusetts implemented into law "An Act Relative to Bullying in Schools" in 2010. It required districts to adopt, and submit to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for state approval, a bullying prevention plan.

The Fall River district's bullying prevention plan states that the district "is committed to providing students with equal education opportunities and a safe learning environment, free from harassment, bullying, discrimination and hate crimes" and "any form of bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, or hate crimes in our schools or at school-related activities" is prohibited.

The city's bullying prevention and intervention plan will be reviewed annually, and updated every two years.